Personnel: Shane Barnard (vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion); Shane Everett (vocals); Jason Hoard (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, banjo, mandolin); Taylor Johnson (electric guitar); Josh Moore (piano, Hammond b-3 organ, Wurlitzer organ, percussion, programming); George Anderson, Todd Cromwell (upright bass, electric bass); John Owen Parish (drums, percussion).
Recording information: Black Cat Studios; Spaceyway Studios.
The One You Need has that resuming-where-we-left-off feel that we all know, picking up like a conversation with an old friend. The contemporary Christian duo's eighth effort finds them once again in the sweet spot between modern worship and personal storytelling, both of which play to their strengths. The title track and lead single cast a spotlight on their roles as fathers, offering melodic words of comfort and well wishes to a newborn daughter with the same earnestness as Sanctus Real's crossover hit "Lead Me." It may be due to these new roles as parents or worship leaders in their home church, but regardless, Shane & Shane sound more personable and full of rich songwriting than ever. The pair demonstrate their bluesy roots on "Liberty" and "Future Version," and deliver the congregational anthem "Your Love" with Chris Tomlin-esque fervor. Fans who have known the Shanes since their early days at Texas A&M University will particularly appreciate how their sound has evolved without neglecting its trademark acoustic folk nuances. ~ Jared Johnson

Recording Type: n/a